


The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project : โครงการคืนชะนีสู่ป่า
Nestled within Phuket's Khao Phra Thaew Wildlife Sanctuary, the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project is a non-profit organisation that rescues gibbons who have been mistreated or kept illegally as pets, with the ultimate goal of returning them to their natural forest habitat. Founded on the principle of minimising human contact with the animals, the project offers guided visits that educate visitors about Thai wildlife, the illegal pet trade, and the careful process of preparing gibbons for life in the wild. Visitors join guided tours led by knowledgeable staff who share the stories of individual gibbons and explain the rehabilitation process in depth. Importantly, guests should expect to observe the gibbons from a respectful distance rather than interact with them directly — this separation is intentional and central to the project's mission. Reviews consistently highlight the educational value of the experience and the evident dedication of the team, making it a genuinely meaningful way to spend time during a Phuket trip. Opening hours are limited and vary by day, so planning ahead is essential. Monday through Wednesday tours run around midday, while Saturday visits are in the afternoon — windows are narrow, typically 30 to 60 minutes. Checking the project's website at gibbonproject.org before visiting is strongly recommended to confirm current schedules and any entry requirements. Comfortable walking shoes and light clothing suitable for a forested environment are advisable.
Experience hints
Pair your visit. After The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project : โครงการคืนชะนีสู่ป่า, round out your day in Phuket with contrasting stops nearby.
Visitor Reviews
I can tell the nationality of every single person giving 1* because of the whining and lack of education they espouse. Ignore the troglodytes. FYI the waterfall volume is determined by rainfall - dry season it will be a trickle. Go figure. As for wearing flip-flops to a rainforest? You get what you get. Wear sensible shoes or you'll slip, trip, or get bitten by something. Common sense. Rehabilitation of wildlife is really expensive. 1,000baht per person isn't cheap, but it all goes to helping them. This isn't a zoo. You won't get to hold them. You won't get loads of close up photos. That isn't what this place is about and that is exactly why it's the best tourist attraction on Phuket. The vast majority of tourist places on Phuket exploit and actively harm their animals (Tiger Kingdom, most of the elephant sanctuaries, Fantasea etc - never go to these places). This place is the opposite, and it's run by a fantastic, passionate biologist who loves what he does. This is conservation in its purest form. Observing the enclosures at a distance, catching glimpses of the wild ones if you are very lucky, and enjoying learning about the gibbons in their care. National Park entry is 200baht which goes towards running the jungle itself and maintaining paths, car parks etc. I got a taxi there from Bang Tao for 700baht which was expensive because of the storm and surge pricing. You can get it for 250ish no problem. There is a food stall in the car park with basic toilets. You can get mosquito spray from the project building once you've signed in. We had five on our tour - me and a family of four with two young kids. The guide was funny, informative, and passionate. He was so good with the kids that even me as a former teacher was impressed. We also saw an orb weaver spider, loads of butterflies, black termites, various grasshoppers, and a wild monkey, as well as about 12 gibbons in total. The gibbons are at a distance because they're being taught not to rely on humans who have abused them. This is the gold standard of rehabilitation and conservation and I am disgusted anyone would give this place 1*. The paths are concrete but they are mossy, uneven, and slippery, so wear suitable footwear. I could not recommend this place more to any tourist with more than two braincells. If you have fewer, stay at home with your MAGA hat on, cheering the invasion of Palestine or Ukraine. Everyone else, visit and enjoy!
We first visited this amazing place 30yrs ago on our first long haul holiday. The concept and attitudes of the staff to trying to better the lifes of the abused Gibbons was outstanding then We returned to find "Tam" still involved. (Sorry if we misheard or got the name wrong.) What we did'nt get wrong was what a special person he is, devoting 30 years to rescuing and rehabilitating the Gibbons. You are only shown 4 to 5 Gibbons and there is no interaction, feeding etc. It is all about rewilding these animals if at all possible. A tremendous place and a sobering couple of hours seeing how man can alter the ways that animals live and evolve. Please visit if you are in Phuket.
This tour excelled our expectations. You won’t get close to the gibbons as it’s the centres mission to minimise contact with humans to hopefully return the gibbons to the wild in the future. The gibbons that we observed were the ones that are furthest from being ready for release. We learnt so many wonderful facts about the exhausting process of retraining these beautiful animals to not rely on humans. We made food for them and used trollies to feed and then observe them. We skipped the walk to the waterfall after as 2 giants trees collapsed while we were there
Location Info
104/3 Moo 3, Paklock, Talang, Phuket 83100, Thailand+66 88 590 9714www.gibbonproject.org/Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – April
Avoid: June – September (rough seas)
Rainy season
May – October
Avg. temperature
24°C – 33°C(75°F – 91°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January
Getting there
Phuket International Airport (HKT) receives direct international flights. Ferries connect from Krabi and Koh Phi Phi.
Getting around
- •Grab (widely available)
- •Tuk-tuks (fixed routes, negotiate)
- •Motorbike rental
- •Airport bus to Phuket Town
- •Ferry & speedboat to nearby islands
Where to stay near The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project : โครงการคืนชะนีสู่ป่า
Find hotels in Phuket on the booking sites travellers trust most.
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Tips for Visiting Activities & Tours
Vet Elephant Sanctuaries
Only visit sanctuaries that prohibit riding, use no chains or bullhooks, and let elephants roam freely. Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai set the standard. If a place offers painting shows or circus tricks, walk away.
Book Through Klook or GetYourGuide
These platforms offer instant confirmation, free cancellation on most activities, and prices that are often lower than walk-up rates. Compare with local agencies for multi-day trips where negotiation might save more.
Do Outdoor Activities in the Morning
Heat and humidity peak from noon to 3 PM. Schedule jungle treks, cycling tours, and outdoor cooking classes for early morning. Water activities are more flexible since you're in and out of the sea.
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Location Info
Visitor Information
Best time to visit
November – April
Avoid: June – September (rough seas)
Rainy season
May – October
Avg. temperature
24°C – 33°C(75°F – 91°F)
Crowds
Peak: December – January
Getting there
Phuket International Airport (HKT) receives direct international flights. Ferries connect from Krabi and Koh Phi Phi.
Getting around
- •Grab (widely available)
- •Tuk-tuks (fixed routes, negotiate)
- •Motorbike rental
- •Airport bus to Phuket Town
- •Ferry & speedboat to nearby islands
Where to stay near The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project : โครงการคืนชะนีสู่ป่า
Find hotels in Phuket on the booking sites travellers trust most.
We may earn a commission from bookings made through these links — at no extra cost to you. Learn more.